“I Didn’t Want to Talk About This — But My Son Told Me I Should”

I never thought I would write something like this.

I’m Margaret Reynolds, and I’m 65 years old. I have two grown children. I’ve lived a full life. I’ve dealt with my share of health issues, and most of the time, I keep them to myself.

This one… I didn’t want to talk about at all.

It Started as Something Small

For years, I had what I told myself was “minor discomfort.”

Nothing dramatic.
Nothing I felt needed a doctor visit.

Just irritation after using the bathroom. Sometimes itching. Sometimes soreness that stayed longer than I expected.

I assumed it was age. Or diet. Or just one of those things you live with.

So I lived with it.

When It Became Harder to Ignore

Over time, I noticed something.

Even on days when I felt fine, I was tense going to the bathroom. I would clean carefully, then sit there longer than I needed to, because I didn’t feel comfortable.

It wasn’t pain.
It was unease.

That’s the best word I have for it.

And the truth is, it started to wear on me more than I wanted to admit.

The Moment I Finally Said Something

I didn’t plan to tell my son.

But one afternoon, I canceled plans because I “wasn’t feeling great,” and he noticed. He asked questions. I brushed him off.

Later that night, he gently asked again.

I remember saying, “It’s embarrassing.”

He said, “Mom, you don’t need to be embarrassed with me.”

That broke something open.

His Perspective Was Different

He didn’t rush to fix anything.

He didn’t tell me I was doing something wrong.

He listened.

Then he said something simple:
“Maybe it’s not about what started it. Maybe it’s about how you’re taking care of it now.”

That stayed with me.

Trying Something I Never Thought About Before

He suggested trying water instead of wiping — not as a treatment, just as a gentler way to clean. (He’d read about it online while looking up ways people manage irritation day to day.)

I was skeptical. It sounded unfamiliar. Honestly, I thought it would be messy.

He found Quisdet for me and explained how it worked. I wouldn’t have looked it up myself.

The first time I used it, nothing dramatic happened.

And that was the point.

It felt calm.
It felt gentle.
And afterward, I didn’t feel irritated.

That surprised me more than anything.

What Changed Over Time

I didn’t wake up cured.

But over the weeks, I noticed I wasn’t thinking about the discomfort as much. It didn’t feel “active” all the time.

I stopped bracing myself.

That alone gave me relief.

Why I’m Writing This

I’m not writing this to recommend anything.

I’m writing it because if my son hadn’t gently pushed me to talk, I would’ve kept quiet and uncomfortable.

At 65, you realize something important:
comfort matters.
And asking for help doesn’t make you weak.

Sometimes, being gentler with your body is the most practical thing you can do.

Living with hemorrhoids for 6 years